Receptacle-closure.



E NGBML RECEPTACLE CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-19. 19x4. RENEWED FEB. 6. 191a.

1,25,451 Patented May '7, 1918.

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Inventor:

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Patented May 7,1918.

"nrrnn snares rarnnr onnron ALFRED INGRAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' RECEPTACLE-GLOSURE.

Patented May 7, 1918.

Application filed March 19, 1914, Serial No. 825,751. Renewed February6, 1918. Serial No. 215,732.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED INGRAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacle-Closures, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to receptacle closures, by which is meant themeans for closing or sealing bottles, jars, cans and the like.

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of, andincrease the simplicity of receptacle closures, and to afford a closurewhich is simply and economically applied. It is a further object tocheapen the sealing of receptacles by reducing the amount of materialnecessary and otherwise.

Another object hereof is to enable the sealing of a receptacle by meansof a plastic annulus (c. 9. rubber) which is compressed into placeagainst the wall of the receptacle by a contraction of the metallicportion of the closure. This circumferential contraction or pressuretoward the wall of the receptacle is distinguished from a mere verticalcompression of a portion of a mass of rubber to squeeze the rubberlaterally into contact with the receptacle.

A closure constructed in accordance herewith may be eflicientlyemployedin combination with ordinary smooth walled tumblers, either cylindricalor preferably conically shaped with the larger end at the top or mouth.

Other objects of the present invention will be referred to in thehereinafter following description, or will, be apparent to those skilledin the art to which the invention pertains.

First will be described forms of receptacle closure embodying thisinvention, and thereafter the novel features will be pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof Figure 1 is a topview of a receptacle to which the closure of this invention has beenloosely applied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof through the central plane of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but after the closure or sealing ofthe receptacle has been eifected.

Fig. 4: is a vertical section on the central plane of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the improvement.

Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 5,but shows the parts after closure.

Fig. 7 represents an analogous application of this invention to aproperly constructed bottle neck interior, this being in vertical crosssection.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts of Fig. 7 in clenchedposition.

Fig. 9 shows a form of cover disk in which the center is struckdownwardly instead of being flat as in Fig. 2.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show how, instead of merely clenching the parts,they may be securely locked in sealed position by a tongue and groove,Fig. 10 being an elevation, Fig. 11 a horizontal section and Fig. 12 avertical section of this modification.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of a modification in which theclamping ring flanges are inclined; and Fig. 14 shows the same afterclenching. I

Fig. 15 shows the invention hereof applied to the sheet metal receptaclehaving also screw engaging means; and Fig. 16 is a central cross sectionthereof.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

The tumbler 21 is preferably flared as stated, and with this inventionno special engaging rib or shoulder is required, the exterior of thetumbler being smooth walled. Any other form of receptacle might beemployed, and the invention will also be operative with a cylindricaltumbler 22.

Besides its metallic portions, the closure of this invention comprises aplastic annulus or a continuous ring of rubber designated 23. Thisinvention operates on the principle of compressing the rubber annulusinto place or flattening it against the wall of the receptacle by acontraction of the metallic portion of the closure toward the receptaclewall.

By a plastic annulus is meant any piece of compressible material capableof being made to surround the receptacle and be compressed against thereceptacle wall; and in addition to rubber, many materials might beemployed, such as compositions of cork, paper, etc., or leather,blotting paper or other material.

' tinuo'us.

Generally speaking, the metallic portions of this closure comprise whatmay be termed the cover disk 24 of any desired shape, -and thecontracting rim or member 25 which both holds the disk and is contractedin the sealing operation. lVhile not necessarily so the contractingmember is preferred to be a separate piece and to overlie the disk asshown.

v The drawings illustrate the member 25 as having its main portion orgenerally cylindrical wall 26 and its two flanges or their equivalent.The upper flange designated 27 overlies and holds the disk 24.- inplace. The under flange 28 underlies the plastic annulus 2 3. Y

; In "Figs. 1 and 2 the parts are "shown in the preliminary positionready to be applied 'to a'receptacle. The closure fits easily. Thereceptacle may be filled with food stuns, and if desired, be located ina vacuum apparatus, and the closure lifted slightly to enable exhaustionof air, thereupon the contractin rim member 25 will be operated to sealthe receptacle.

Rather than construct-the member 25 as a"'continuousri1'ig, it is shownas non-con- One of its ends '29 overlaps the other 30, thus permitting arelative sliding so that with a simple implement the ring may bemechanically contracted in circumfere'nce, thus shrinking or movingradially inward to flatten the rubber annulus against the-receptaclew'all asdescribed. An implement for this purpose is not herein shown.iiigs. '3 and "tshow the final position when the receptacle is properlysealed. The circumfer'entially contracted [condition of the ring 25 isindicated. The space between its outer wall and the cover disk 24: isnow closed, and the space between its lower flange 28 and the receptacleis substantially closed. This circumferential contraction and radial-1yinward compressionof the rubber, secures the desiredsealing, andimcidentally the sealing efiect is rendered morefipe'rfec't by the factthat the rubber is caused to press intimately against thecover' disk 24;as well as against the upper part of the receptacle wall. I

"In order 'to secure the parts in their closed position, a clenching ofthe flanges may suflice. I VVhen'theconsumer desires to open thereceptacle, it is merely necessary to unclench and disengage the endso'f the contracting ring. When a cylindrically walled tumbler isemployed, the cover disk 24 ma have a dropped flangeel at its peripheryasshown in Figs. 5 and6, so that when 'thefpartsfarein closedpo'sitionas in Fig. "6, the plastic material 23 will "stand a substantialdistancebelow the receptacle mouth, 'thus giving 'a certain latitude foraccidental vertical displacement.

Instead of relying upon the clenching engagement of the ring flanges,one of the ends of the ring may be provided with a tongue 32 engaging ina slot 38 in the other end. The tongue and slot are so located that whencompression has reached the proper point, the tongue drops into the slotas shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12; or the tongue or slot or both might beproduced by the compressing and sealing apparatus.

To facilitate disengagement, the outer. ring-end 29 may be provided withan unflange'd integral extension 34.

Substantially the same description applies to theinterior sealingillustrated in Figs. '7 and '8 excepting that in this case the coverdisk 2% must be suitably modified, for example, by deflecting its rimupwardly and returning it inwardly to give a flange 35 with which theholding flange 86 of the contracting ring may engage. The upper flange37 of the ring 25 now serves the double function of confining theplastic annulus and resting upon the bottle mouth for positioning the"closure. 7 I

It has been stated above that thereceptacle cover disk'andthecontracting ring are of metal, but obviouslythis statement should bemodified "as equivalent rigid materials would serve, and in the case ofthe cover disk, different materials such as paper, specially treated orotherwise.

Owing'to the advantageous structure of the closure herein described, itis foundjth'at it maybe employed with receptaclesvarying 100considerably in diameter and roundness. For example, on a receptacle ofseventy-five mm. indi'arneter, variations as large as from two to threemm. can be ractical-lytaken care of. v I

Figs. 13 and 14 show a modification wherein the clampingring 'upperfandlower flanges are*of converging form both 'before and after clenching.Otherwise "this "structu'reislikethato'f Figs. l to'a. t

In the modification of Figsi15 audit the invention is shown applied to atin c'a'ifi'or. canister 21. Thedownwardly flanged'cover or'c'a'p 31 isprov'ided with a helical-rib 42 giving screw 'en'gagementfwith thecorre- 116 sponding rib 41 on the neck of the can. In applying thisclosure the cap will firstlbe screwed down 'in'placefa'nd thereupon theclamping "ring will be contracted upon the plasticmaterial'23as before.Afterthecdn- 12 0 sumer has opened the receptacle, the'rin g may bedisear'deda d thescre w thread forins a convenient means of thereaftersbrewing thecap'inpl'ace. y p

It will thus be seen ,that'the-re' has above 1 25 beendescribe'dareceptaele elas reo eratin on the principles hereof and f attaiiiin'g,the objects and "advantages before -'stated ;but since details may bevariously modified no limitation is desired to details excepta es 1'30set forth in the appended claims. It will be further understood that thedimensions shown in the drawings are not essential, and in fact forobvious reasons some of the dimensions have been exaggerated.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A receptacle closure including in combination with the receptacle, acover, forming an angle with the receptacle wall, a plastic annulusadapted to contact both the receptacle wall and the cover in such angle,and a metallic contracting portion arranged with relation to said coverand annulus to be forcibly circumferentially contracted tobination withthe receptacle, a cover, forming an angle with the receptacle wall, aplastic annulus adapted to contact both the receptacle wall and thecover in such angle, and a metallic contracting portion arranged withrelation to said cover and annulus to be forcibly circumferentiallycontracted toward the receptacle wall, and when so contracted tocompress the annulus fiatwise between the metallic portion andreceptacle whereby the plastic material is compressed against the walland cover to seal the receptacle, said metallic portion being a flangedring separate from the cover but overlying the cover, with leeway forcontraction, and adapted to be secured when the receptacle is sealed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED INGRAM. Witnesses:

HENRY F. KLEINFELDT, DONALD CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G.

